Slightly Mad raises over $600K for Project CARS

Double Fine's Kickstarter Adventure game has raised a lot of attention for crowd-sourced game funding, as well inspired many small developers to try the same method. But Kickstarter isn't the only way, and at least one developer has found success without it, to the tune of $660,000.

Slightly Mad Studios, the developer behind Need for Speed Shift, started its own crowd-sourcing portal to raise funds for a game with the working title, Project CARS. GamesIndustry.biz reports that the site has been up since October 2011, and reached the figure with 40,000 backers. The studio hopes to raise $5 million in total for a two-year development cycle. It will also be sharing the profits, after claiming 30% to go directly back towards the studio.

Backers can contribute from $5 to $100,000, offering perks that range from the ability to chat on the game's forums at the low end, to VIP treatment during special events, having your face mapped to an opponent, and various other bonuses.

"It's great to see our WMP portal performing well," said CEO Ian Bell. "It's nothing less than a revolutionary new approach to game development and funding. It allows developers to make the game they want to make, without undue publisher pressure."